Hall Well & Plumbing Inc. was closed when two suspects broke into the business around 3:15 a.m. The business owner, who lives just down the street from where the robbery was taking place, heard the alarm sounding and quickly responded. When he arrived, he spotted the suspects pushing rolls of copper wire valued at almost $5,000. The owner confronted the thieves, which resulted in a scuffle, during which the owner fatally shot one of the suspects. The second suspect fled the scene, but was later arrested and charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and possession of stolen property. (MyFOX8, Reidsville, N.C., 7/8/13)
Ryan Schmidt heard his car alarm go off around 4 a.m. He responded by going outside with his shotgun. Schmidt, who has police training, found a man hiding in his yard and ordered him to the ground. The suspect remained there until police arrived to arrest him. The suspect is charged with criminal trespassing, possession of drug paraphernalia, alcohol intoxication in a public place and a probation violation. (The River City News, Bellevue, Ky., 12/30/13)
From The Armed Citizen Archives
July 1977: A gang of juvenile delinquents was terrorizing a 67-year-old woman across the street from the Oklahoma City home of Noel D. Highfill, 72. Highfill reached for a shotgun, ran into his yard and fired, sending the youthful criminals running. (The Oklahoma Journal, Oklahoma City, Okla.)